ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA (ANS) -- Hindu radicals belonging to a group called Sangh Parivar set a church at Mahasamudram village on fire in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh state on August 20.

According to news issued by the All India Christian Council on their website www.christiancouncil.in, a newly constructed church run by Pastors Chandriah and Solomon Raju was set ablaze by the Hindu radicals. The pastors were about to inaugurate the church building for the village community.

According to the website, Pastor Chandriah, Solomon Raju and Church members were shocked to see their new church burnt and consequently they went to the local police station and filed a complaint.

All India Christian Council (aicc) has condemned the burning of the church and demanded that the culprits behind the incident be brought to justice at the earliest.

James Varghese is a reporter for Masihat newspaper in India, and is also a freelance journalist working for ANS.